The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-11
THE NEWS IN CHICAGO.
Parting Sce.ses in the Prison-Preparations
for the Executions To-Day.

for the Executions To-Day
CHICAGO, Nov. Io--When the news of the
commutation of the sentence of Fielden and
Schwab was received at the Jail there was an
extraordinary scene of activity. The news was
sent to the relatives of all the condemned men,
and in a short time they began to arrive at the
Jail. The first of the women to come was Mrs.
Schwab. Socn after Schwab was brought from
his cell to the main Office. His wife quickly ad-
vanced to him; and, throwing her arms about
his neck, burst into tears. Schwab returned the
embrace in calm manner, and soon the two
were chatting quietly together. After this. Spies
and Fischer were brought from their cells and
taken to the Jail library. Engel was brought
to the private Office of Mr. Folz. This was done
Cor the purpose of allowing the relatives to take
their last interviews. The first of the women
to arrive after Mrs Schwab was Miss Engel. the
daughter of .he condemned Anarchist. When
the TWO met in the private Office there was an
outburst of grief which it is impossible to de-
scribe. Father and daughter clung to each
other and sobbed convulsively. Their conver-
sation was in German. and was listened to only
by deputy Oleson. Then came Mrs. Spies, the
mother of August She had been waiting out
side for an hour and half. Her sobs could be
heard through the corridors of the building.
She did not stay long in the library with her
son, and on her exit from the Jail Mrs. Fischer
was admitted. She went into the library, and
her lamentations were heard above the tramp
of the deputies who swarmed about the place.
But the crownng scene of all was the visit of
Nina Van Zandt, the proxy wife of Spies She
was conducted to the library by Deputy Oleson-
AS she walked through the main Office she be-
trayed no emotion. The moment at which she
saw August, however, completely changed her
demeano There a lock then gasp, and
in a trice the lovers were in each others arms.
A bevy OF curious reporters and officers crowded
up to the door of the library. but it was quickly
shut by the deputy. The interview between
the prisoner and his faithful devotee lasted
nearly half an hour. What actually transpired
will never be known to the world but it was
sufficient to bring glimmer OF tears to the
eyes of the old deputy In half an hour the
lovers had parted, and the excitement of The
entrance of Nina had passed
At o'clock there influx Of deputy
sherifs to the Jail. Men who had for years been
serving civil writs, and not bothering their heads
about hangings, came in. They all wore heavy
overcoats, and in the right hand pockets of
these were bulky objects which, to the eyes of
the experienced, were plainly revovers. Orders
were given forbidding the entrance of anyone
not connected with the press the sheriHs
Office. Then some of the deputies went to sup
per, and matters quieted down.
Shortly after z o'clock Sheriff Matson came to
the jail. His mission was twofold He wanted
to give personal notice to Spies, Engel, Fischer
and Parsons that they would have to suffer the
extreme penalty of the law. He also wanted to
that his deputies were go placed that all un-
authorized persons should be kept from the
vicinity. When the sheriff went to the cell
rooms he was accompanied by deputies Price,
Turner and Galpln. The quartet stayed in the
cell-room for about twenty minutes The
sheriff would only say that none of the con-
demned men showed any signs OF breaking
down. 1t was at 7:25 o'clock that the
Rev. DR.. Bolton, of the First Methodist Church,
called on Parsons. His visit lasted about three
minutes, and his efforts to get Parsons to con-
slider spiritual matters were of no avail Capt.
Schaak was the next noted arrival. He had
been telerhoned for by the sheriff. The Bur
gomaster," as he Is styled, went into the cell
room. When he came out he said he had not
talked to any of the Anarchists. He was asked
by deputy to step into the room where the
body of Louis Lingg lay. The Captain indig-
nantly refused to look at the remains. II don't
want to see Lincg," said he; Il have not seen
him in months, and do not want to see him now
that he is dead"
Then supper was brought in from a neighbor-
ing restaurant. All of the Anarchists partook
of cream toast Fischer INDUCED In steak, and
Engle ate some mutton chops. All took coffee.
In this connection it be said that last night,
when Lingg was asked what he would like for
breakfast, he ordered potatoes and chicken
salad. He took his life before he ate the meal.
After the suppers were brought in, the under
taker, who was to take charge of Linggs re-
mains, came Next was borne in Linggs coffin.
1t was made of pine and stained walnut. The
undertaken and his assistants placed the re-
mains in the coffin, and it was decided to allow
it to remain in the Jail all night.
At $40 o'clock Spies, Fischer and Enge were
taken from the rooms in which they had bade
farewell to their relatives and consigned to
their cells These were soon closely guarded.
whlle table was placed outside. and on this
was lamp, thus giving the guards opportu-
nitv to watch the movements of each prisoner.
During the evening ex-Sheriff Hanchett. who
had charge or the hanging of the three Italians.
came in to see the Anarchists. He was accom-
panied by Deputy Sheriff Udell of McHenry
county, who hung Jim Dacey, the slayer of
Alderman Gaynor, of Chicago.
Mrs. Lucy Parsons created a scene in the
Criminal Court building about 10 o'clock. She
walked down Michigan street to the main en-
trance and was admitted to the hallway by the
armed guards. She had with her a lady friend
Approaching the door which leads to the Jail
was denied her by deputy sheriff, who was act
ing under directions of Sheriff Matson
But must go in to see my husband ex-
claimed Mrs. Parsons.
''You cannot" was the firm reply.
Then the dusky wife of the Anarchist threw
up her hands and fell TO the tiled floor in dead
faint. It took over twenty minutes to restore
her to consciousness, and when this done
she escorted from the building. Parsons
was not informed of the episode just at the
time this incident took place ex-Sheriff Hanchett
emerged from the jail ceilroom and went into
Sheriff Matson's private Office In couple of
minutes he came out hearing in his arms the
ropes with which the reds to be hung.
Shortly after this. Deputy Sheriff Ccrrau who
had been guarding Fischer. came into the Jail
Office from the cell-room He reported that all
the men were awake and talking on general sub
iects to their guards.
The erection of the scaffold began at 1O:15
o'clock. The first intimation that the news
paper men had of it was the falling Of heavy
board. Then came blows of hammers, and each
one distinctly heard IN the dead quiet which
prevailed. The gallows was put up in
the northeast corridor of the Jail. where for
many years all Cook county hapgngs have
taken place. The scaffold is the same used in
the hanging of the three Italian murderers, but
il has been heightened for the purpose of swing
ing off the four Anarchists at once. 1t is paint
ed dead brown color
Up to 11:40 o'clock everything is quiet
throughout the city. No indications of disturb
ance have been reported from anv quarter. The
fact that the authorities have taken every pre-